APC convention: News behind the news

Osinbajo meets Tinubu, Akande 

WesternPost gathered that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has not seen and spoken with his former boss, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the last 5 months. The rumoured ambition of Osinbajo to contest the presidential election which many people say will pitch him against Tinubu, his benefactor is said to be the reason for the gulf that now exists in their relationship. At the APC National Convention on Saturday, Professor Osinbajo proved right, the truism, that blood is thicker than water, when he cast perceived animosity aside to greet Asiwaju Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande. 

…Fayemi pays homage too

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum also set aside protocol to show his respect to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the Convention. 
The Ekiti State Governor exhibited the Yoruba Omoluabi value of paying reverence to elders in the way he chose to greet the APC National Leader. Fayemi has been reported to be nursing a presidential ambition too. 

How Segun Osoba got Shittu and Olaiya to step down for Omisore

All thanks to Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore emerged the consensus candidate from the South West for the position of National Secretary of APC after being pushed forward by Governor Kayode Fayemi and Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and endorsed by other APC Governors from the South West. 

Barrister Adebayo Shittu, former Minister of Communications from Oyo State and Professor Abideen Olaiya from Oyo State  had insisted on upsetting consensus arrangement until the wise intervention of Osoba who prevailed on them to toe the party line.

Mary Ekpere-Eta insists on her right to contest for National Woman Leader

There was mild drama on the stage when Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong announced that Barrister Mary Ekpere-Eta from Cross Rivers State has stepped down for Betta Edu, former Commissioner of Health of the state in the race for the position of National Woman Leader of APC. Mary stormed the stage and grabbed the microphone to announce she would go for election and nobody can step her down for a consensus arrangement without her consent.

And Omisore triumphs…

Those who know Otunba Iyiola Omisore will attest to the fact that he is a fighter. He goes for what he desires with all his might and power. And he had built bridges across the river as Chairman Appropriation Committee of the Senate. 

From some governors of the Southwest, particularly Governor Fayemi, Governor Akeredolu and Governor Oyetola who championed his secretaryship ambition, he got the entire 22 APC governors to endorse him. 
APC National Leader, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, also endorsed him. The challenge from Chief Ife Oyedele from Okitipupa, a chieftain of the defunct CPC, eventually fizzled out as some of the governors from the West saw his candidacy as imposition from the outside.

The CPC elements would have, however, fought back through Chief Adebayo Shittu’s aspiration. He was the last stumbling block to Omisore. But the intervention of the leaders of the west led by Aremo Olusegun Osoba saved the day. Osoba got Shittu to finally step down to pave the way for Omisore’s coronation.